On July 31, 2025, the Charleston Dirty Birds defeated the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs 10-3 in an Atlantic League of Professional Baseball Clubs game at GoMart Ballpark in Charleston, West Virginia. The Blue Crabs vs Dirty Birds matchup saw Charleston’s bats dominate, amassing 14 hits, including two home runs, to secure a decisive win before 1,989 fans under mostly cloudy skies with temperatures at 82 degrees.
Charleston struck first in the second inning when Jon DeLuca’s single drove in a run, making it 1-0. The Dirty Birds extended their lead in the third with Jalen Nelson’s RBI single and Alsander Womack’s sacrifice fly, pushing the score to 3-0. The Blue Crabs vs Dirty Birds game saw Southern Maryland respond in the fourth when Pearce Howard’s double drove in Jamari Baylor, narrowing the gap to 3-1.
The Dirty Birds pulled away in the fifth and sixth innings. Keon Barnum’s solo home run in the fifth made it 4-1, and DeLuca’s home run in the sixth extended Charleston’s lead to 5-1. The Blue Crabs vs Dirty Birds contest tilted further in Charleston’s favor in the seventh when Barnum’s two-run homer and additional runs made it 7-1. By the eighth, Charleston added three more runs, with Benjamin Blackwell’s double and Nelson’s contributions sealing the 10-1 advantage.
Southern Maryland mounted a late rally in the ninth. Zach Racusin’s single and CJ Chatham’s RBI, along with a passed ball, brought the score to 10-3. However, the Blue Crabs vs Dirty Birds game ended with Charleston’s defense holding firm, completing three double plays to stifle any comeback. Charleston’s Anthony Diaz earned the win, pitching effectively, while Jalen Miller took the loss for Southern Maryland.
Charleston’s offense was led by Nelson, who went 3-for-5 with an RBI, and Barnum, who drove in two runs with his homer. DeLuca also contributed a homer and an RBI. For the Blue Crabs vs Dirty Birds, Southern Maryland struggled with three fielding errors, including miscues by Brett Barrera, Sam Dexter, and Ryan McCarthy, which aided Charleston’s scoring. The Blue Crabs managed five hits, with Howard, Dexter, and Racusin each doubling.
The Blue Crabs vs Dirty Birds series has been competitive, with Southern Maryland holding a 45-38 record and Charleston at 39-45. This loss marked a setback for the Blue Crabs, who had won the previous game 7-5 in a rain-shortened six innings. The game, lasting 3 hours and 34 minutes, highlighted Charleston’s aggressive base-running, with four stolen bases.
The Blue Crabs vs Dirty Birds rivalry continues as Southern Maryland looks to rebound in their next matchup, with the team’s playoff hopes hinging on tightening defense and capitalizing on offensive opportunities.
